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May 31, 2013

Cassini finds activities on the Saturn's moon, Dione

Dear followers,

The +NASA Cassini spacecraft which explores activities on Dione since 2004 has found some interesting data. The following picture, obtained from Cassini, shows the topography of a mountain known as Janiculum Dorsa on the Saturn's moon, Dione.

Scientists have found more evidence for the idea that Dione was likely active in the past. It could still be active now.

Actually, "A picture is emerging that suggests Dione could be a fossil of the wondrous activity Cassini discovered spraying from Saturn's geyser moon Enceladus or perhaps a weaker copycat Enceladus," said Bonnie Buratti of +NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratoryin Pasadena, California, who manages the Cassini science team that studies icy satellites. The presence of a subsurface ocean on Dione would boost the astrobiological potential of this once-boring iceball.

Many other little moons in our solar system thought to have a subsurface ocean, such Saturn's moons Enceladus and Titan and Jupiter's moon Europa which are among the most geologically active worlds in our solar system.And don't forget, you could follow us on Google+ and Twitter !